Elevating device



June 20, 1950 s, R SHAW, JR 2,512,534

ELEVATING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1949 INVEN TOR. Ma

TTORNEYS chines, or the like.

in bearings l3." a.

A frame bed l4, like the upper frame portion l1 Patented June 20, 1950 at:

ELEVATING DEVICE Samuel R. Shaw, Jr., Ivanhoe, Calif., assignor of one-half to Rudolph It. Indermill, Visalia, Calif.

Application Apr-i125, 1949, Serial no. 89,500

This invention relates to elevating devices and more particularly to a-cportable and improved means for elevationally-positioning a platform for the support of various objects or persons.

In agricultural uses'the present platform is particularly adapted to support workers engaged in-tree-pruning or fruit-pickin operations. It is also adapted to support spray rigs, wind ma- It is among the objects-of this invention to provide a new and improved conveniently elevated platform of convenient, working dimensions and simplified operating qualities.

Other objects of the invention are the provision .of a mobile elevating device incorporating desired characteristics of. improved unitary control, uniform qualities of operation, stabilized in all positions of elevation, which is safe in use, simple and foolproof in construction, and susceptible of ready mass production on an economical basis.

Other specific objects of the invention include the provision of a new and improvedwinch construction, new and improved winch: operating and locking mechanism,and'improved telescoping and telescope operating means for hoisting and/or lowering a platform supported thereon. g

The invention'also includes among itsobjects the provision of improvements in design, construction and operation over prior art devices heretofore contemplated: for generally similar purposes. 1

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the"objects contemplatedare attained, .as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustratedin the aconialine 33 of Figure 1.

. Figure 4 is a detailed fragmental view,: in ver- .-tical section,vof a telescoping member.

. Referring more particularlyto the drawings, an elevator designated generally bythe numeral l0 comprises a frame supported formovement over the earth upon a set of wheels l-2 mounted may be generally rectangular in plan view and may comprise longitudinally disposed side members l5 and I6, a front "transversenmember H,

and a similar'transversevrear'member 18. The

V 6 Claims. (01. 187-11) 2 rear wheels are conveniently journaled on the rear transverse frame member and the front wheels steerably journaled on the front transverse frame member A traction tongue I9 is employed to impart earth-traversing movement to the frame and to steer the front wheels in any suitable conventional or other manner.

Reinforcing intermediate transverse frame members 2| and 22 may be welded or otherwise secured to the side members I5 and I6, and parallel track members 23, 24, 25, and 26 may extend longitudinally of the frame between the intermediate transverse members 2| and 22 to which they are secured not merely for additional support for the frame but more specifically to serve as tracks for wheels, as, 29, 30 and 3|, the latter having concave rims 32 complementary to the cylindrical top sides of the track members 23 through 26, respectively, upon which they are designed to be guided. The tracks and wheels may take other cooperative forms such as rails and flanged wheels, channels, and channel guided wheels, and other suitable forms without depart ing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The wheels are secured for rotation within yokes 35 attached to respective inclined operating arms 36, 31, 38, and 39. The first two of said operating arms 36 and 31 are pivotally secured on a horizontal axis by an upper transverse support rod 40 while the other two operating arms 38 and 39 are similarly pivotally secured as upon a corresponding parallel transverse rod 4|. The operating arms 36, 31, 38 and 39 may be telescopic, if desired, and incorporate means for locking the same in telescopically extended or contracted positions as for successive stepped elevational positioning through increased elevational ranges.

The :transverse rods 40 and 4| are secured as to the innermost 43 of a pair of telescoping elements .43 and 44. vertically extensible and slidably disposed within upwardly extending tubular frame members 45, 46, 41, and 48 positioned at each corner of the frame. The connection of the transverse rods 40 and 4| with the elements 43 may be alternative, as within yokes 50. Saidv rods may be held within the yokes as by tie rods 5| extending completely through the transverse elements 40 and 4| and held by nuts 52 and washers 53, or the bolts, as 5|, may be welded to the ends of the rods Whereby'the same may be held in position within the yokes 5|). Said yokes may be threaded or secured as by welding to the upper end 56 of th inner telescoping elements 43. r The upper ends 58' of the operating arms 3 .in the bearing H.

nel irons 62 along the sides thereof may be supported either removably or' -pern'ia'nentlyf upon the upper ends 65 of the yokes 50; The plat form is steadied and the framework H madesuitably rigid by any diagonal bracing 65 extending transversely of the frame and by similar diagonal bracing Bl [extending longitudinally thereof. n

"Adjacent one end of the upper-frame portion H and mounted upon a suitable bracket: -inclu'ding bearings "H is a winch generally designated at T2 and comprising an axle l3j=journaled A plurality of drums. l8, 18, B0, and 8| may be individually keyed": to the shaft 13. The drums correspond innumber and are in longitudinal alignment with the track members 23 through 25 and'fthe corresponding operating arms 36 through...33, respectively;

Each drum employs 'a cable Msecured thereto at one end and having its other end secured as in an appropriate yoke 85 to .the lower end of the operating arms3$ through 35, respectively, adjacent the wheels 28, 29,, 30, and 3!. The cables 34 connected to the operating arms 38 and Bil-are connected directly between the'winchand said arms but the cables connected to: the arms 36 and '31 pass around pulley'wheels Bil-rotatably mounted in brackets 8! :upon' therear side of the frame. j

A large gear 95 is keyed :tothe shaft, 13 in mesh with a smallergear 95 having acrank handle 9'. keyed thereto. The smaller gear is mounted upon'a plate 98 secured to the-bracket H1 or the'frame. A detent 99 mounted as on "a pintle ma engages the teeth of the larger gear 95 to prevent relative counterclockwise movement thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1.

In operation, the elevator 1a is moved. to a place of use as through connection with a tractor or by hand by means of the tongue l9,

Elevation of the platform Si is accomplished by counterclockwise rotation of the'crank handle :71 thereby directly turning the smallgear 96 and the larger gear 95 and enjoying the benefit relative gear sizes.

counterclockwise rotation of the crank handle 4 uniformly upon the drums of equal diameter raising the platform uniformly and easily.

The limit of upward extension of the platform is determined by the angle of inclination of the operating arms 36 and is limited by the length of said arms in their most vertical operative positions. Inorde'r to insure against axial separation of the telescoping elements and 44, they may be provided anywhere along their length,

"1o" Any suitable platform 6! formed as with chanas at their lowermost ends, with annular shoulders I02 and I 03, respectively, the latter being adapted to engage the former at a limit of upward movement of the innermost element 43 91 is permitted by the detent 99 andresu'lts'in clockwise rotation of the large gear 95 and of its shaft 13 and associated drumsl8 through-8i, thereby winding the cables 84,- respectively, on the drums. The cable secured to the operating arms 38 and 39, acting directly, and those secured tothe operating arms 36 and 31, acting indirectly, around the pulley wheels 90, draw the lower ends of the operating arms relatively together and into more vertical positions. During such movement the arms are pivoted around the which the weight of the platform 51 is s'ustained.

In view of their connections; as aforesaid, and an absence of slack in the system, the cables turn within the intermediate element 44. Corresponding shoulders I04 and I05 may likewise be arranged in complementary relationship for mutual'abutment at a limit of upward movemen of the intermediate telescoping movement 44 within the corresponding upright member '45.-

' When it is desired to-lower the platform, the crank handle 91 may be slowly turned in a clockwise directionafter releasing the detent 99 from its engagement with the large gear 95. The weight of theplatform B2 and associated parts is then 'suflicient to cause return of the operating arms towards their less inclined position, decreasing the verticality of, and enlarging the angle'ma'de by, said arms,- i. e., relative to the vertical membersietc. I

It is not contemplated that the arms will be raised to a condition of absolute verticality or outwardly beyond the upright members 45, etc., inasmuch as such positioning would interfere with the automatic lowering of th platform.

If desired in lieu of orin addition to the detent .951, the interior of the upright members 45 and associated frame parts intercommunicating therewith as by means of the transverse memhere 2! and 22 and the longitudinal side frame members 15 and lfi may be rendered fluid-tight andfilled with a hydraulic fluid, as oil, through any conventional one-way metering check-valve to permit the free vertical extension of the telescoping members by drawing such fluid from a practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is, not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures.

The invention having beenherein described, what I claim :as new and desire to secure" by Letters Patent is:

it An elevator comprising a support frame, horizontally spaced vertical telescoping frame elements. rigidly supported on the frame for upward extension, substantially horizontal track members arranged in the frame in alignment between the telescopic frame elements, track followers movable along said track members, said track members and followers having complementary surfaces for guiding said followers along said tracks, operating arms having first end portions pivotally secured to the upwardly extensible frame elements and second end portions secured to said track followers, and means for positioning the followers. along their respective track members whereby their movement is translated by their respective operating arms into responsive telescopic movement of their respective telescopic elements.

2. An elevator comprising a support frame, horizontally spaced vertical telescoping frame elements rigidly supported on the frame for upward extension, generally horizontal track members arranged in the frame in alignment between the telescopic elements, track followers movable along said track members, said track members and followers having cooperative association for guiding said followers along said tracks, operating arms having first end portions pivotally secured to the upwardly extensible frame elements and second end portions secured to said track followers, said operating arms respectively forming angles with said telescopic frame elements, winch means including cables connected to the second end portions of the operating arms for drawing said second end portions and said'track followers along said tracks towards their respective telescopic elements to raise said telescopic elements, and a platform supported upon the upper ends of said extensible elements.

3. A portable elevator comprising a wheel-supported frame, horizontally spaced vertical telescoping frame elements supported on the frame for upward extension, said frame including generally horizontal track members aligned between the telescopic frame elements, track followers individual to the telescopic elements movable along said track members, said track members and followers having complementary surfaces for guiding said followers along said track, operating arms having first end portions pivotally secured to the upwardly extensible portions of the telescopic elements and second end portions secured to said telescopic elements respective track followers, said operating arms respectively forming angles with said telescopic elements, means for imparting simultaneous corresponding movement to the followers relative to their respective telescopic elements, and a platform supported upon the upper ends of the telescopic elements.

4. A portable elevator comprising a generally rectangular wheel-supported frame, horizontally spaced vertical telescoping frame elements supported on the frame for upward extension at each corner thereof, said frame including generally horizontal track members in alignment between the telescopic elements, track followers individual to the telescopic elements movable along said track members, operating arms having first end portions pivotally secured to the upwardly extensible portions of the telescopic elements and second end portions secured to corresponding track followers, said operating arms respectively forming acute angles with said vertical telescopic elements when said elements are telescopically retracted, winch means including a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in the frame at one end thereof, means for rotatably positioning a shaft, and a platform supported upon the upper ends of said extensible elements.

5. In an elevator having a support frame, vertically extensible elements having a telescoping fit within the tubular frame members at each corner thereof, elevating means comprising generally horizontal track members mounted in the frame in alignment between said extensible frame elements, operating arms having first end portions pivotally secured to the upwardly extensible frame elements and second end portions secured to said track followers, and releasable means connected to the second end portions of the operating arms for drawing said second end portions and said track followers along said tracks towards their respective vertical members to raise said extensible elements.

6. In a portable elevator having a movable support frame, vertically telescopic elements rigidly mounted in spaced relation erectly in the frame, the combination of horizontal track members in alignment between said telescopic elements, track followers mounted for movement along the track members, operating arms having first end portions pivotally secured to the upwardly extensible telescopic elements and second end portions secured to said track followers, winch means including cables secured to the second end portions of the operating arms for drawing said second end portions and said track followers along said tracks towards their respective telescopic elements to raise said elements, and a platform supported upon the upper ends of said telescopic elements, said winch means comprising a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in the frame at one end thereof, a gear keyed to one end of the shaft, means for rotating the gear and its shaft, detent means engageable with said gear to restrain unwinding movement of the winch means, said operating arms being in opposed slanting relationship longitudinally of the frame, pulleys guiding and reversing the effective pull of the cables secured to the operating arms pivoted to the telescopic elements most remote from the winch means for causing such operating arms to cooperate with the most proximately pivoted arms to raise said platform.

SAMUEL R. SHAW, JR.

No references cited. 

